This week we will cover the last of the Short Vowel Rules in Orton Gillingham. So far, we have made it through FLOSS, “K” Rule, and the “J” Rule. The fourth and final short vowel rule is the “CH” Rule.
The “CH” Rule says: -tch is used after one short vowel at the end of one syllable words to spell “ch.”
This means, in a one syllable word where there is a short vowel sound followed by a “ch” sound, the letters –tch are being used to make that sound.
Examples of this rule are:
? snatch, match, hatch, patch
? sketch, stretch, fetch, etch
? ditch, snitch, stitch, switch
? splotch, scotch, blotch
? clutch, hutch, crutch, Dutch
Of course, as with most rules, there are exceptions. There are four words which should use –tch but they don’t:
- Which
- Rich
- Much
- Such
In class, we were given the acronym, WØRMS (the O is not really used) to help remember the words.
This word should NOT have –tch (because it is a multi-syllabic word) but it does: dispatch
Someone learning this rule might have a desire to put –tch after every short vowel they hear, especially in a one syllable word like, lunch.
It is important to distinguish that if there is a consonant between the short vowel and the “ch” sound, then –ch is used.
Examples: scrunch, bunch, finch, bench, pinch, punch,
In order to be sure that the rule is learned, dictation with nonsense words can be given. Words like: splutch, quitch (remember: qu is considered a consonant, so the ui is NOT a vowel team in this instance), bletch
Here is a “cloud sheet” from my class.
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(8) Comments
Can you think of any more multi-syllable words? I’m blanking. But I wanted to see it in action and compare it to dispatch. Do most multi syllables not end in -tch but only in -ch?
There should not be anymore multi -tch besides dispatch.
Well, that’s easy then!
Where can I purchase your cloud sheets?
Hi Patrice, I don’t sell them, but if you give me your email and let me know if there are specific cloud sheets you are interested in, I will email them to you.
Warmly,
Jennifer
To help students remember the exceptions to this rule, we use the silly sentence “Which rich man was such a much?” There is a song from the 50s (?) about someone being not “such a much”…meaning, they aren’t all that! The kids seem to like that and laugh about it.
Jen, could you email the ch vs tch cloud sheet to me? I’m teaching it next week Thanks.